Dimensions and severity of marijuana consequences: Development and validation of the Marijuana Consequences Questionnaire (MACQ)

The Marijuana Consequences Questionnaire (MACQ) is a 50-item self-report measure modeled after the Young Adult Alcohol Consequences Questionnaire (YAACQ). College students (n = 315) completed questionnaires online. A confirmatory factor analysis supported the hypothesized 8-factor structure. The results indicate good convergent and discriminant validity of the MACQ. A brief, unidimensional, 21-item version (B-MACQ) was developed by a Rasch model. Comparison of item severity estimates of the B-MACQ items and the corresponding items from the YAACQ indicates that the severity of alcohol- and marijuana-problems is defined by a relatively unique pattern of consequences. The MACQ and B-MACQ provide promising new alternatives to assessing marijuana-related problems.

► We evaluate an 8-factor Marijuana Consequences Questionnaire. ► We test the factor structure, convergent and divergent validity, and test–retest reliability. ► We developed a short unidimensional version via a Rasch model. ► We present item severity estimates. ► We compare severity estimates of alcohol and marijuana consequences.